Protective-element-forming machine.



R. A. PLUMB & C. R. WEED. PROTECTIVE ELEMENT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-25, 1916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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PROTECTIVE ELEMENT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED JAN.26, 1915 Patented Mar. 27,1917.

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H. A. PLUMB & C. R. WEED.

PROTECTIVE ELEMENT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN.26, I916- 3,220,550

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Patented Mar. L7, 1917.

R. A. PLUMB & C. R. WEED. PRQTECTIV'E'ELEMENT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. l9l6- Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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ROY AL PL i TBUSSED CONCRETE STEEL COMPANY, OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

i ll: CLARENCE R. WEED, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOES TU MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION 61F rnorEcrrvn-nLEMnnr-ronranve MACHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented hilar. 2'2, 11991 t.

i l Application filed January 26, 1916. Serial No. 74,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Roy ALFRED PLUMB and CLARENCE R. WEED, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of Detroit, in the countyof Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulProtective-Element-Forming Machine of which a specification.

machine for forming a refractory composition board. (from fibrous,preferably firea is gradually compressed proof, and cementitiousmaterials) suitable for use on roofs,.s1d1ngs and for general protectlvepurposes; and among its important features are the following z-nieanswhereby two moving layers or laminations of fibrous material arecontinuously relation with a much thicker intermediate body. layer ofplastic cementitious material,

fabricso formed and exc ess moisture is expelled therefrom to a degreethat admits ready removal of the sheet from and means whereby the T themachine; means whereby suction is applied to induce proper and uniformfeeding of the intermediate layer of cement in respect to the fibrousmaterial; means whereby the fibrous material applying belts or webs arecleaned; and means whereby excess moisture is expelled therefrom. Theinvention further consists in the details of construc tion shown,described and claimed; and it also consists in a process of manufacturewhereby the fabric is formed and made uniform throughout.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side "view, the edge forming tapes and various other partsbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is an end view from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a diagrammatic side view showing the arrangement ofthe vats andcirculating system. Fig. t is a transverse section through the suctionroller and adjacent parts. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectionthrough the suction roiler, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is anend view of the roller looking from the left in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is anenlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showingthe action of the feedor suction roll and the pressure material. Fig. 8 is a transversesection through the belts and tapes with the material inclosed and beingmolded thereby.' Fig. 9 is a continuation ofFiTg. 1. Fig. 10

formed and in- 'timately combined 1n coating or covering bearings 38carried rolls upon the is a vertical section through one of the vatslike for the fibrous material.

Similar reference characters refer to parts throughout the severalviews.

In the embodiment of our invention shown, 1 indicates uprights, 2 and 3the upper and lower the cross beams that form the main frame.

Supported upon the frame and floor 5, re-

. mg layers. The .vats receive a constant renewal of fibrous materialfrom a mixer or beating engine 10 (conventionally shown in F ig. 3)through storage tank 11, pipes 12-13 and valves lat; and the overflowtherefrom is returned to pipes 1516, valves.18 and pump 19, the latterof which is driven in any suitable way, for example, by shaft and belt21.

In the preferred construction, the vats 6 and 7 (Fig. 10) each include areceiving chamber 22, .an intermediate or working chamber 23 and a;discharge chamber 24, the walls 25 and 26 between the chambers beingadjustable in height, preferably by means of strips 28 held guides.Sharp corners in the intermediate chamber are avoided by corner pieces29, and the liquid is kept stirred by agitators 30 located near thebottom. mersed in the intermediate chamber and supported on a horizontalshaft 3l.is a ro tatable hollow cylinder mold or collector 32, thesurface of which is preferably formed of woven wire of fine mesh. As thecollector rotates, the fibers are gathered during its passage throughthe liquid and remain in a thin sheet thereon until removed in a mannerhereinafter described' The collector or mold in passing thereoverthroughout arc abelt which is held in close contact therewith by apresser roll 36 that turns in by the arms 39 pivotally supported at 40.The roll 36 has a' fabric facing 41 and is arranged tangential to themold 32. The parts moving in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1, muchof the Water is extruded and the thin sheet of collected material istransferred from the mold to the vat '6 has longitudinal beams, and 4,

the mixer througha considerable,

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in appropriate Partly imthe belt. Such water as finds its way to theupper surface of the belt is discharged beck into the vat by means'ofthe dripboard 4'2 pivotally supported at 43.

From the roll 36 the belt passes to the right (Fig. 1) over a guide roll44 (which may be omitted), guide rolls 45, the bed of press-rolls 46 andthe end roll 48 (preferably the drive roll, its power being suppliedfrom belt 49 through reduction gearing 50),

and is guided in its return to the collector by the tension roll 51, theguide roll 52 (the ends of which are carried by independently adjustablebearings 53 whereby a tendency for the belt to shift laterally may becorrected), guide roll 54 and guide roll 55. Streams of water fromspraypipes 56a-re directed against the surface of the belt to remove anymaterial which may adhere thereto, and a vibrator 58 may be employed toinsure a morev thorough washing action. A presser roll 59, carried by aweighted arm 60 pivoted to the frame at 61, bears on the belt oppositethe guide roll 55 and presses the excess water therefrom.

- A belt 63, similar to the belt 35, passes over the mold in the rat 7,and is guided by elements 64, 65, 66, 68, 69 and 70 that correspond,respectively, to elements 48, 52, 54, 55, 36 and 44. The presser roll 71in this case also acts as a guide roll for the upper run of the belt. Ata-point between the guide rolls and the press rolls for the belt 35, thebelt 63 passes around a suction roll 80 and from there passes beneaththe presser rolls 81 (which gradually converge with the rolls 46) to thedrive roll 64.. The press rolls 81 are carried by a frame 83, theforward and rear ends of which are independently'adjustable'toward andfrom the rolls 46 by means of screws 84 that turn in nuts 85 supportedon the main frame. .It will be understood that the belts 35 and 63passing to the right below the roll 80 are spaced somewhat from eachother, and that each bears a thin substantially homogeneous layer of wetfibrous material.

Located just to the left of the roll 80 is a cement chute 90 of a widthsubstantially equal to that of the belts, to which wet plastic hydrauliccement 91 is supplied through a pipe 8 and valve 93 from a suitablemixer 94 (Fig. 3).

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that thesuction roll 80 comprises the heads 100 (carried on the shaft 101) thatare joined by the sectors 102 having longitudinal chambers 103 openingto the outer surface of the roll by passages 104. One of the heads,makes a close joint with a fixed valve plate 105 in communication with asuction pipe 106 and hose 107 that leads to an air pump 108 (Fig. 2).The

pipe 106 has a branch 109 and the valve plate preferably connects thechambers 103 with the pipe or hose at two points in their angularrotation-one, opposite the cementv 91 in the chute, and the other at apoint forward of the point of contact of the on-coming run of the belt63. When the connection is made in the manner first stated, the belt isdrawn tightly onto the roll and excess water is removed, and when madeas stated last, the cement is drawn radially into close contact with thebelt to prevent the plastic mass from being pressed back away from theconverging belts and to insure uniform feeding thereto (see especiallyFig. 7). The suction roll also removes excess water from the cement,.anddraws the latter out into the fibers whereby a more homogeneousproduct is secured than would otherwise obtain. If desired, a suctionbox 110 (Fig. 1) may be provided beneath the suction roll and on theopposite side of the belt 35, whereby a similar suction action issecured with reference to the lower layer of fiber.

As the belts pass forwardly between the converging press rolls 46 and81, the sheet is gradually compressed and moisture is excluded to anextent such that when the belts again diverge from each other (at therolls 4864) the sheet freely separates from them and is discharged overa slide or doctor 111 (Fig. 1) to a conveyer belt 112. The lattercarries it to a suitable table 113 (Fig. 9) where it is cut into sheetsof the required length, and these sheets are then stacked in a press 114of suitable construction and submitted to extremely heavypressure. Upondrying these sheets form tou 'h boards of a hardness sufficient forbuilding purposes, particularly interiors.

It will be noted that the sheet is formed by a continuous processwherein the separate layers of fiber and cement are gradually compactedand brought into intimate bonding relation with each other and the wateris nearly all expelled, after which the sheet is cut into lengths andsubjected to the exquired. The relation of these steps is important,particularly in that it both provides the speed necessaryfto make theproduct commercial and prevents the channeling of the material by waterthat would take place were the pressure suddenly applied. A moreintimate bond between the fiber and the cement is also secured.

' Were there no means to prevent it, the material of thesheet wouldsqueeze out to some extent along the edges of the belts 35 and 63-; andin order to overcome this tendency and insure the production of a sheethaving sharply defined edges, one of the belts, preferably the belt 63,is paralleled at each edge by a narrow ta e or belt 116 of a thicknessequal to or slightly greater.

naaohso l6 and 81. {The tapes may he made integral with the belts ifdesired. The beltstogether form, it will be seen, a continuous moldsurrounding the sheet on all sides.

Suitable pans 120 and 121 are provided for the purpose, respectively, ofreceiving and conducting away the water extruded by the rollers l6-8land that used in washing the upper belt.

ltis obvious that many changes may be made without departing from thespirit of our invention, and we do not, therefore, wish to be limitedotherwise than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

We claim 1. Means for forming a refractory composition board from wetfibrous material and net. hydraulic cementitious material comprisingmeans for continuously forming a thin moving sheet of loose wet fiber,means foicontinuously applying to the surface of the moving sheet of wetfiber a. relatiyely thicker layer of plastic material consisting of wethydraulic cement and inert filling material, and means for thereaftercompressing the moving wet compound sheen so that thehydraulic plasticmaterial will be forced between the fibers, thus cementing them togetherand to the main body of the plastic material.

2.- Means for forming a layer of loose wet fiber of substantiallyuniform thickness throughout and continuously uniting said layer to onesurface of a relatively thicker hydraulic plastic mass of substantiallyuniform thickness throughout. and means for gradually compacting saidfibers with the body of the hydraulic plastic materials so that thefibers are cemented to the hydrau lie plastic mass to form a compoundboard of substantially uniform thickness through out having a reinforcedface.

3. ltleans for forming refractory composition board from fibrousmaterial, hydrau" lic cement and water comprising a moving loraminousmember, means for distributing-- Wet fibrous material uniformly over thesurface of the loraous member, means for continuously applying a heavierlayer of material consisting ementially. of Wet hydraulic cement to thelayer of fibrous ma'. terial, a series of rolls through which the wetcompound layer pawns and with which it directly contacts, whereby itisgradually compacted andgaged and whereby excess Wat/er is excluded. i

l. Means for forming refractory compo sition board from fibimus materialand cementitious material comprising a plurality of rats cong liquid offiber and water, me for continuously separating the fiber from each ofthe liquid mixtures, for removing it from the rats in the form of t websheets and for as-- semblingcthe moving sheets in M :5: re-

lation, means for continuously applying a relatively thicker sheet ofhydraulic cementitious material between the sheets or" fibrous material,and a series of opposed rollers for gradually compressing the movingcompound sheet to force the materials into intimate bonding relation, togage the thickness of the board and to express excess water therefrom.

5. Means for log refractory composition board from fibrous and hydrauliccementitious materials comprising a rat containing a liquid mixture offiber and water, a rotatable foraminous collector arranged to dip intothe rat and continuously remove a thin sheet of fiber therefrom, meansfor continuously applying a relatively thicker sheet of hydraulic cementto the fiber sheet, ing compound sheet of fiber andcement is graduallycompressed into a M ing sharply defined edges.

6. Means for forming refractory compo .sition board from fibrous andhydraulic cementitious material comprising rat containing aliquidmixture of fiber and water, a rotatable foraous collector arag w to dipinto the rat and continuously remove a t sheet oi fiber therefrom, abelt passing over the collector and arranged to remove the collectedsheet of material therefrom, means for continuously applying arelatively thicker sheet or hydraulic cement to the fiber sheet, meansfor impag movement to the belt, and means for compressing the movingcompound sheet oi fiber and'cement on the belt into a thin sheet ha ingsharply defined edges.

7. Means for forming protective struc tural sheets from fibrous andhydraulic cementitious materials comprising a rat containing a liquid offiber and water, collecting means for continually removing a thin sheetof fiber from the rat, means for continually applying a thin sheet ofcement to the fiber sheet. belt means by the thin compound sheet iscarried, said belt means constituting a mold for one side and two edgesof the sheet, and pressure means for compacting the compound sheetshaping the remaining side thereoi't'.

8. Means for log protective structural sheetslrom fibrousand hydrauliccementitious materials comprising a rat containing a liquid mixture offiber and water, collecting means for continually removing a sheet offiber from the rat, means for con tinually removing a thin sheet offiber from the rat, meansior continually applying a sheet of cement tothe fiber sheet, belt means by which the thin compound sheet is carried,said belt means constituting a mold for one side and two edges of thesheet, and n. series of rolls arranged gradually decreasing vdistancesfrom the belt and means whereby the movsheet hay- 1 with refer- 1. I

ence to the movement of the latter for compactlng the compound sheet andshaping the remaining side thereof.

9. Means for forming protective structural sheets from fibrous andhydraulic cementltlous materlals comprising a vat containing a liquidmixture of fiber and water,

- the sheet of fiber, and means for gradually compacting the compoundsheet of fiber and cement.

10. Means for forming protective structural sheets from fibrous andhydraulic cementitious materials comprising a vat containing a liquidmixture of fiber and water, collecting means for continuously removing athin sheet of fiber from the vat, moving belt means to which thecollected sheet is transferred, a suction roll for continuously applyinga thin sheet of cement to the sheet of fiber. said belt means forming amold for one side and the edges of the compound sheet, and a bed ofrollers for gradually compacting the compound sheet.

11. Means for forming refractory composition board from fibrous andcementi tious materials comprising a moving belt, means for applying athin sheet of wet fiber thereto, means for applying a thin sheet of wetcement to the wet fiber, a bed ofrollers over which the belt passes, abed of rollers below which the belt passes, said last mentioned bedbeing located above the first and the rolls thereof being located abovethe corresponding rolls of the first mentioned bed and in position tocontact directly with the upper surface of the sheet whereby thethickness of the sheet is gaged, the rolls of the two beds being locatedat gradually less distances apart along the line of forward movement ofthe belt, and means for adjust- ,ing one bed of rolls toward and fromthe other.

12(Means for forming protective structural sheets from fibrous andcementitious materials comprising a mixer for forming a liquid mixtureof the fibrous material, av vat and two pipes for establishingcommunication between the mixer and the vat, one of the pipes conveyingthe liquid mixture from the mixer to the vat and the other returning theliquid from the vat to the mixer, a pump connected to one of the pipesto establish circulation, means for continually removing the fiber fromthe vat in the form of a thin sheet. a mixer for forming a fluid mixtureof hydraulic cement and water. a pipe leading from the mixer to thevicinity of the belt, and means for positively feedsheet of wethydraulic plastic cementitious material to the sheet of fibrousmaterial, said last mentioned means including a movable suction memberwhereby the wet plastic material is accurately fed. I

1 Means for forming refractory composition board comprising movingforaminous carrying means, means for constantly supplying thereto a thinsheet of wet fiber, and means for constantly applying a thicker sheet ofwet hydraulic plastic cementitious material to the sheet of fibrousmaterial, said last mentioned means including means for supplying theplastic material and means for positively distributing said materialacross the sheet of wet fiber.

15. The process of forming refractory composition board from fibrous andhydraulic cementitious materials which consists in reducing the fibrousmaterial to a statewherein it is suspended in water, continuouslyremoving the fibrous material from the water in the form of thin sheets,continuously combining with the thin sheets of fibrous material athicker sheet of wet hydraulic cement which constitutes the body of theboard, and gradually compressing the moving sheets upon each other,whereby the hydraulic cement is forced between the fibers and broughtinto intimate bonding relation and whereby excess water is pressedtherefrom.

16. The process of forming refractory composition board from fibrous andhydrau-- lic cementitious material which consists in reducing thefibrous material to a. state wherein it is suspended in water,continuously removing the fibrous material from the water in the form oftwo thin sheets of loose fiber, continuously combining with the loosesheets of fibrous material a. thicker sheet of wet hydraulic cement andinert material, which constitutes the body of the board, and graduallycompressing the moving sheets upon each other, whereby the hydrauliccement is forced between the loose fibers cementing them to each otherand to the body of the board and whereby excess water is pressedtherefrom, whereupon the formed sheets may be removed for furthermanipulation.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification.

ROY ALFRED PLU IB. CLARENCE R. WAJED.

